Glenn Hoddle criticised Tottenham centre-back Ledley King for the "stupid" goal which Charlton's Chris Powell scored to send the White Hart Lane club crashing to their fourth defeat on the trot.

Sven-Göran Eriksson watched as lifelong Spurs fan Powell hit his first Addicks league goal to clinch their derby dozen - 12 games unbeaten against capital opposition - in the 70th minute.

It was only Powell's fifth goal in 494 league games - and his only other strike in four years at The Valley was also against Spurs, in the north Londoners' 4-2 FA Cup win last season.

Alan Curbishley's side now lie seventh in the league after Spurs were denied by a string of sensational saves by the Addicks' Republic of Ireland star Dean Kiely.

Luck was not with Spurs. Two Gus Poyet headers were cleared off the - by Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky.

Hoddle was angry King did not clear the ball before Powell nipped in to score. "We handed it to them on a plate," he said.

"Ledley knows he made a mistake as he's got to see danger and clear it. There are circumstances when good players do things at the right time - and sometimes you just have to clear the ball from the area.

"The quicker Ledley can learn from situations like that, the quicker he will come on and become an even better player.

"We need to defend better as a team as we missed two golden chances and then gave a stupid goal away.."

Curbishley, not known for his statements of intent, finally admitted his side could now target a dream European place.

"Everyone at our club should be rejoicing and looking up rather than down," he said. "At the start of the season, if you'd said to me we'd be seventh at this stage, I'd have grabbed it."